CPSC, National Shooting Sports Foundation Announce Recall to Replace Project HomeSafe Gun Locks

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), of Newtown, Conn., is voluntarily recalling about 400,000 gun locks for replacement. Under certain conditions, these locks can open without the use of a key. This can give unauthorized access to a firearm.

The NSSF and its lock supplier, Adstar Inc., of Merrick, N.Y., are unaware of any instances of unauthorized access by adults or children.

The locks resemble a bicycle cable lock and have a red cable with a black padlock. Red vinyl bands around the top and bottom of the locks read, "PROJECT" and "HOMESAFE." "MADE IN CHINA" and "30mm" are imprinted on the bottom of the locks. The gunlocks were distributed in clear plastic cylinders with Project HomeSafe literature.

The gunlocks were distributed nationwide by NSSF as part of its Project HomeSafe Campaign for safe firearm storage. Law enforcement agencies distributed the gunlocks free of charge from September 1999 through October 2000.

Recipients of the Project HomeSafe gunlocks should call (800) 726-6444 anytime to receive a free replacement gunlock. Until the replacement gunlock is received, keep the original Project HomeSafe lock installed on the firearm. Consumers are reminded to never put a gunlock on a loaded gun, and to take extra precautions to make sure the gun is secure to keep kids safe.

The replacement lock has an improved locking mechanism and a thicker braided-steel cable. With the announcement of this replacement lock program, NSSF is resuming Project HomeSafe and encourages communities to enroll in the nationwide program by having a law enforcement official contact the NSSF.

NSSF urges consumers to comply with all state and local laws requiring the use of gun locking devices. For more information on the safe handling and storage of firearms, visit the Project HomeSafe website at www.projecthomesafe.org.

To see a picture of the recalled product(s) and/or to establish a link from your web site to this press release on CPSC's web site, link to the following address: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml01/01078.html.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission protects the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death from 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270, or visit CPSC's web site at http://www.cpsc.gov/talk.html

Gun Lock Hotline: (800) 726-6444
February 7, 2001 Contact: Russ Rader

NSSF Contact: Bill Brassard
(203) 426-1320